Risk assessment: Prevalent occupational hazards in Nigerian petroleum oil refining and distribution industry

Background: In terms of human suffering and related economic costs, the magnitude of global impact of occupational accidents and diseases, as well as major industrial disasters, has been a long-standing source of concern at the international, national, and workplace level.Objective: To define the prevalent hazards in the operational environment of the Nigerian petroleum oil refining and distribution industry likely to challenge the health of the workers, with a view to establishing sound basis for recommending appropriate remedial measures.Design: The staff of these establishments work in departments, which for the purposes of our study were split further into many smaller units in order to capture the specific hazards of the many different functions (activities) performed by different sections of a particular department in their particular locations.Setting: The operational environments- facilities and activities of Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), and Pipe lines and Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), both in Alessa, Eleme near Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Subjects: Staff of the two establishments who have served for a period not less than three years. Those with less service years (exposure period) were excluded in the study.Method: Using a checklist, an on-the-spot appraisal of the industrial sites, facilities and activities of this industrial sector was undertaken through personal walk-through of the operational sites and facilities, and personal participation/involvement in the operational activities of the various units during the study period. We also had a one-on-one interaction (through oral interviews) with staff of the establishments to elicit their views concerning the hazards of their workplace.Results: A survey of the facilities and activities of the Nigerian petroleum oil refining and distribution industry showed that they are fraught with sundry hazards types. The study revealed specific hazards inherent in the specific work areas/departments, units, facilities and activities/functions of this industry. A review of these hazards showed that they fell into five main occupational hazard categories- physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial and ergonomic hazards. The study also revealed that some facilities have become obsolete, defective and hazardous themselves, in addition to becoming outlets for other sundry hazards. It is believed that sundry job exposures to these workplace hazards are responsible for the several but varied degrees of accidents, injuries and morbidities as well as mortalities also recorded in this industry.Conclusion: The current state of facilities as well as activities at the operational units of petroleum oil refining and distribution industry in Nigeria are fraught with several hazards that are categorizable into five main hazard types- physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial and ergonomic hazards- a situation that disposes staff to sundry health risks. Therefore, there is urgent need for a comprehensive review/update of the industrial /occupational health policy and services in this very critical sector of the Nigerian economy in order to mitigate these hazards and their associated health risks, thereby securing safer and healthier facilities and work environment for the workers. It is hoped that the findings of this study have provided a useful basis or background for this